Arson charge after huge Wellington blaze

A 34-year-old man has been charged with arson over a huge
fire that destroyed part of a Wellington storage facility.

The Kiwi Self Storage building in Lyall Bay went up in flames
on Friday two weeks ago, destroying and damaging items stored
there.

Police this morning said they had arrested a Johnsonville man
yesterday afternoon.

He will appear in the Wellington District Court today charged
with arson.

Officers had searched the man's property and seized a car
believed to be relevant to the investigation.

Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Ferguson said an
investigation team had been engaging with the community and
collecting evidence and information.

An alleged offender was also captured on CCTV footage at the
storage unit and appeared to have changed clothing to avoid
detection.

"It is pleasing to be able provide the large number of
victims who have lost many valuable items, both in the
monetary and sentimental sense, with the reassurance that
someone will be held accountable for this arson," Mr Ferguson
said.

Police were still seeking sightings of a light blue 1994
Daihatsu Charade which was in the suburbs of Johnsonville and
Kilbirnie, particularly around the storage unit, between 12am
and 1am on Friday, April 4.

"We continue to seek the public's assistance with this
investigation as I believe they will hold valuable
information about the movements of the offender on the night
of the fire," Mr Ferguson said.